Sacred Datura is a showy or in the with large, bluish leaves and very large, aromatic, trumpet-shaped flowers. It is commonly found along roadsides and in sandy or gravelly areas.
This hallucinogenic plant was used by the local Tongva people in their sacred puberty rites. It is extremely toxic and people have died from its use.
The large, leaves are bluish-green and can range in length from 3 to 8 inches. They are rounded at the base and taper to a point, with margins that may be smooth or variably , sometimes somewhat wavy. The leaves generally fold upward along the prominent . They have a soft, fuzzy feel, and smell like peanut butter, but are highly poisonous. The white or purplish flowers are 6 to 8 inches long – that includes the 3- to 4-inch-long, cylindrical green and the trumpet-shaped white . The corolla is composed of 5 fused , each with a long, elegant tip. A single extends beyond the 5 six-inch long . The of Sacred Datura are more than 1/2 inch long. The length of the stamens and anthers helps distinguish it from Jimson Weed (Datura stramonium), whose stamens and anthers are much shorter. The flowers open in the evening and are by moths. The inch-long, almost spherical, prickly fruit of Sacred Datura nods on a short stalk and has many tan seeds inside. The fruit of the introduced Jimson Weed is not nodding, but erect, and has black seeds. This native plant grows below 7,000 feet on sandy or gravelly soil, but also likes roadsides and other disturbed areas. Sacred Datura is found in and , the , the foothills, and the . Its range extends into Utah, Texas, and Mexico. The two species of Datura in the San Gabriel foothills are Sacred Datura (D. wrightii), which is , and Jimson Weed (D. stramonium), which was from Mexico. Jimson Weed is smaller overall, with smaller leaves, flowers, and anthers, but with longer filaments. They are both highly toxic. The same common names (Datura, Jimson Weed, and Thorn Apple) have often been applied to all species in the genus because they look so much alike. The large white flowers make a great addition to a moonlight garden. This plant needs little care and thrives in harsh, neglected conditions. Be mindful of its toxicity and don’t let anyone digest or smoke any part of the plant as it may cause death.
Full sun.
Only occasional summer water, if any.
Tolerates clay soil, if well drained.
Meaning of the Name:
Datura is from the East Indian name for a related plant; wrightii honors Charles Wright (1811-1885), a Yale-educated surveyor who collected plants extensively in Texas and the southwest deserts.
The word Sacred in the common name refers to its role in the spiritual life of some Native Americans.